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      When is FA Cup first-round draw? Date, time, ball numbers, TV channel and FREE live stream as 48 EFL sides enter the hat

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      THE draw for the FA Cup first-round proper will take place on Monday night.48 EFL clubs from League One and League Two begin their campaigns at this stage, alongside the 32 non-league teams who have progressed through qualifying.The FA Cup first-round proper gets underway in NovemberCredit: PAPremier League and Championship sides will join the iconic competition from the third round stage in the new year.But before that, teams from the lower end of the footballing pyramid will battle it out in the first-round proper.SunSport has all the information you need ahead of the huge draw.When is FA Cup first-round draw?The FA Cup first-round draw will take place on Monday, October 14.The draw will take place from 7pm BST.Bradford City’s Valley Parade will host proceedings.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhat TV channel is the FA Cup first-round draw on and can it be live streamed FREE?The FA Cup first-round draw will be broadcast live on BBC Two.You can live stream the event for FREE on the BBC iPlayer website/app.Alternatively, SunSport’s live blog will provide full coverage of the draw.FA Cup first-round ball numbersThe ball numbers for the FA Cup first round are as follows:1. Accrington Stanley2. AFC Wimbledon3. Barnsley4. Barrow5. Birmingham City6. Blackpool7. Bolton Wanderers8. Bradford City9. Bristol Rovers10. Bromley11. Burton Albion12. Cambridge United13. Carlisle United14. Charlton Athletic15. Cheltenham Town16. Chesterfield17. Colchester United18. Crawley Town19. Crewe Alexandra20. Doncaster Rovers21. Exeter City22. Fleetwood Town23. Gillingham24. Grimsby Town25. Harrogate Town26. Huddersfield Town27. Leyton Orient28. Lincoln City29. Mansfield Town30. Milton Keynes Dons31. Morecambe32. Newport County33. Northampton Town34. Notts County35. Peterborough United36. Port Vale37. Reading38. Rotherham United39. Salford City40. Shrewsbury Town41. Stevenage42. Stockport County43. Swindon Town44. Tranmere Rovers45. Walsall46. Wigan Athletic47. Wrexham48. Wycombe Wanderers49. Rushall Olympic or Peterborough Sports50. Tamworth51. Oldham Athletic52. Hartlepool United or Brackley Town53. Kettering Town54. Altrincham or Solihull Moors55. Rochdale56. Scarborough Athletic57. York City58. Harborough Town59. Curzon Ashton60. Gainsborough Trinity or Boston United61. Hednesford Town or Gateshead62. Alfreton Town63. Guiseley64. Taunton Town or Maidenhead United65. Horsham66. Aldershot Town67. Southend United68. Sutton United69. Boreham Wood70. Weston Super Mare71. Wealdstone72. Dagenham & Redbridge73. Barnet74. Chesham United75. Tonbridge Angels76. Woking77. Forest Green Rovers78. Maidstone United79. Worthing80. Braintree TownWhen will FA Cup first-round ties take place?FA Cup first-round ties will take place between Friday, November 1 and Monday, November 4.Most read in FA Cup More

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      I’m an ex-EFL boss… club owner kicked me up the backside for goading fans before running off to do same thing

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      EFL legend Andy Hessenthaler has opened up on the craziest moments of his career.Hessenthaler, 59, starred for Watford, Hull and Gillingham during his playing career. Andy Hessenthaler has opened up on some of his stunning experiences from the EFLCredit: GettyAfter hanging up his boots in 2007 he then moved into coaching, and has managed Gillingham, Dover, Leyton Orient and Eastleigh.His experience across the football pyramid has churned up some remarkable stories, ranging from furious managers to wild owner antics.The icon lifted the lid on some of his experiences as part of SunSport’s “What the EFL series?”Best ever player?Kevin Phillips would be the standout player for me in the EFL because the amount of goals he scored and he had a fantastic career.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMost annoying EFL fans?Got to be Millwall. (Laughing) Has to be.Maddest dressing room tale?Lindsay Parsons, bless him he’s passed away now. We was losing a game – I can’t remember who it was against – and he lost his head. He kicked the door and as he’s kicked the door his foot got stuck in the door. Everyone was trying to keep a straight face but he actually couldn’t get his foot out of the door.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSCraziest transfer story?I signed Paulo Gazzaniga from Valencia and we ended up, within a year once he got in to the team, we were selling him to Southampton.But the craziest thing for me was I got to Southampton with him and another agent turned up out of the blue. Ex-owner of Rangers Craig Whyte reveals HMRC top brass told him they should have struck a deal before club’s administration in 2012There were two agents saying they represented the lad so we couldn’t do the medical. Fortunately for the lad it went through and he signed for Southampton.Wildest owner antics?Old Leyton Orient chairman [Francesco Becchetti]. We were playing on boxing day against Portsmouth. We were losing the game, and the manager was getting a little bit of stick from the fans but at half-time the owner had come down and sat behind our dugout. I kept looking around, the subs were looking. I was like ‘what’s up with this guy? Has he been drinking? What’s happening?’ All he kept shouting was ‘Andy, Andy’. We won the game and the guys who were giving Ian [Hendon] the manager a little bit of abuse, I sort of cupped my ear a little bit, to say you’re not going to give him any stick now. And as I did that and we come out of the dugout and stood up somebody kicked me up the backside.READ MORE SUN STORIESI’ve turned round and it’s the owner, the next minute the owner just ran off down the side of the pitch, took his coat off, ran past the Orient fans clapping them, went over to the Portsmouth fans and started goading the Portsmouth fans. I couldn’t believe it, I’ve just been attacked by the owner.Leyton Orient chairman Francesco Becchetti and Andy Hessenthaler had a bizarre exchange on boxing day 2015Credit: Sky SportsBecchetti kicked Hassenthaler after a comeback win before goading rival fansCredit: Sky Sports More

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      Supercomputer predicts League One table as Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney learn Wrexham’s fate and runaway champions

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      A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the final League One table – and it’s good news for Wrexham.The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise following the arrival of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.Wrexham are set for another successful seasonCredit: AlamyBirmingham are also tipped to have a great campaignCredit: AlamyCo-owners Reynolds and McElhenney have overseen two successive promotions in as many years from the National League up to League One.Wrexham currently sit second in the table, two points behind leaders Birmingham.And a supercomputer from TheyScored.com predicts them to stay there until the end of the campaign.The Red Dragons are expected to finish with 92 points.Read More in FootballThey are set to be pipped to the post by Birmingham, who were relegated from the Championship last season.The supercomputer predicts Chris Davies’ side to finish with 98 points following a strong start to the campaign.Stockport County, Mansfield, Lincoln and Huddersfield are expected to compete in the play-offs – with Bolton just missing out.At the other end of the table, Burton, Crawley and Cambridge United are all in danger of relegation.Most read in EFLFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSSupercomputer’s League One predictionCambridge have been predicted to finish rock bottom with just 22 points.Shrewsbury are tipped to narrowly miss the drop by just two points come May, despite being in the danger zone right now.Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney reveals VERY famous superstar will be attending Hollywood clash vs BirminghamMeanwhile, the likes of Leyton Orient, Reading, Charlton, Blackpool and Peterborough are set to remain well clear.Several League One games originally scheduled for this weekend have been postponed due to the international break.Crawley Town against Shrewsbury will go ahead as planned. More

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      EFL side slapped with fresh TRANSFER BAN as years-long nightmare goes from bad to worse

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      READING have been plunged into further crisis after being hit with a new transfer embargo by the EFL.The Royals are more than familiar with nightmare transfer bans after being slapped with their THIRD different market restriction since 2021.Reading have been plunged into further turmoil after being slapped with yet another transfer embargoCredit: GettyOwner Dai Yongge has suffered a tumultuous seven-year financially stricken reignCredit: Rex FeaturesIn fact, Reading were already under an embargo until 2025 as a punishment for last year’s financial misdemeanours. But the latest ruling relates to the late filing of accounts to Companies House for the 2022-23 financial year.The stricken club were hit with a second embargo just last year for failing to pay taxes on time.That came after Reading were punished with a two-year transfer ban in the summer of 2021 for an outstanding tax debt.read more football newsThe League One outfit had only been able to sign players from other clubs on loan or if they were free agents.A Reading FC statement read: ” The Club can also confirm that – alongside the requirement to operate under the terms of its business plan – it has today been placed under a formal registration embargo by the EFL.“We are working closely with our auditing partner to finalise these accounts at the earliest opportunity – at which point the embargo will be lifted immediately.”Reading have not purchased a player for a transfer fee since signing Ovie Ejaira from Liverpool for around £3million in August 2020, but the winger is now a free agent after agreeing to leave in December.Most read in EFLFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe crisis club are currently in the midst of a long ongoing takeover saga after hated current owner Dai Yongge put it up for sale earlier this year.American business Couhig were expected to complete a deal, however talks broke down late in the process and the club moved on.EFL star banned for eight matches for biting Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s nephew Reading were relegated from the Championship in May 2023 after ten years in the second tier. The club would have escaped relegation if it hadn’t been hit with a six-point deduction for various off-field breaches.The Royals finished the season on 50 points, which would have left them 19th and one point above the drop.The club were again docked six points from the League One table last season after failing to pay a HMRC bill within a specified 80-day window.Yongge has seen Reading get deducted a total of 18 points since his 2017 takeover.Reading currently sit 16th in League One, with 13 points from nine games under manager Ruben Selles.Reading timeline since Dai Yongge takeoverHere is how events have unfolded under Dai Yongge:May 2017 – Yongge takes control of 75 per cent of the club after they lost Championship play-off final on penalties to Huddersfield2021 – Reading’s accounts show pre-tax losses of £146million, with 234 per cent of its revenue spent on player wages2023 – Reading breach Financial Fair Play rules and amass deductions totalling six pointsMay 2023 – Reading relegated down to the third tier for the first time in 31 yearsAugust 2023 – Docked one point and issued a suspended three-point punishment for breaching EFL regulationsSeptember 2023 – Suspended three-point deduction triggeredFebruary 2024 – Docked two more points for yet more breachesMarch 2024 – Yongge attempts to sell training ground to fellow League One side WycombeMarch 2024 – Selling of the training ground put on hold due to planning limitationsOctober 2024 – Reading hit with third transfer embargo since 2021 More

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      Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney brutally told ‘stay in England’ after shock plan to have Wrexham playing in Europe

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      WREXHAM’S hopes of playing in Europe have met with an icy response.Hollywood A-listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have funded two straight promotions, helped by Disney+ show Welcome to Wrexham.Wrexham co-chairmen Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds would surely love a shot at Europe after transforming the club on and off the fieldCredit: PAJack Marriott celebrates scoring vs Northampton, leaving Wrexham second in League One and eyeing a third straight promotionCredit: Instagram / wrexham_afcAnd a U-turn could be looming on Welsh clubs who compete in the English Football League from qualifying for European competitions.Talks are ongoing over allowing Championship clubs Cardiff City and Swansea City, plus Wrexham and Newport County, to enter the Welsh League Cup, with a place in Europe the likely prize for the winners.The last Welsh EFL club to qualify was Swansea back in 2013, thanks to winning the EFL Cup.At the moment, Wales’ “big four” clubs can only make Europe via success in the Premier League, FA Cup or EFL Cup.READ MORE TOP STORIESBut the Cymru Premier’s all-time record scorer has led criticisms of plans to give them a possible “in”.Marc Lloyd Williams, 51, who hit 319 goals in 467 Welsh League games, told BBC Radio Wales: “The four clubs made the decision to play in England, so stay in England. “Don’t try and take those European spots off the Cymru Premier teams. It is their bread and butter, week in, week out.”Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham and Newport are in the Football League and the FA Cup and EFL Cup. Most read in EFLFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”They have got a chance to play Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal with a home tie and get big crowds in. “Just because TNS have qualified for Europe, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Cardiff or Swansea or Wrexham or Newport would.  Tom Brady in hilarious reaction after getting X-rated welcome from Wrexham fans for Birmingham clash”For me, you can’t be having your cake and eating it. They have made their decision and I would be against them coming in.”Unsurprisingly Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson has the opposite view.Jack Marriott Wrexham vs Northampton TownCredit: Instagram / wrexham_afcHe said: “To have that opportunity to get into Europe again for the club would be amazing. Hopefully that comes to fruition.”The Dragons qualifying for Europe would further boost a following growing worldwide, especially in the USA, courtesy of their co-owners – “Deadpool” star Reynolds and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” actor McElhenney.Saturday’s 4-1 home win over Northampton left Wrexham second behind Birmingham in League One – dreaming of a third promotion in a row.And it appears L1 rivals might have mixed views on the Dragons receiving a much bigger opportunity of getting into Europe.Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony told his The Hard Truth podcast: “Wow. I guess it’s a two-sided answer. READ MORE SUN STORIES”One would be no, because they’re in the EFL, but two would be… if I were them, I would want to. “Financial rewards are massive. When I looked at buying Irish clubs recently, one Irish club made millions from being in Europe, from getting through and qualifying to the group stage. The prize money is colossal.” More

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      I was in prison FIVE times before I turned my life around to become an EFL star… now I’m a full-time church pastor

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      ON October 28, 1988, Ricky Junior Otto was sentenced to four years in prison aged 20 — the last of his five jail terms.He accepts he was a thug, bully and out-and-out menace to society — a product of a violent culture which ruled with fear growing up in Hackney, East London.EFL hero Ricky Otto is now a church pastorCredit: SuppliedOtto exclusively revealed how two inmates serving a combined 41 years during his time in Wandsworth changed his lifeCredit: AlamyBut following the time he served at Wandsworth, on this occasion for armed robbery, Otto walked out on January 25, 1990 an entirely different person to the one who arrived.And, remarkably, it was two inmates serving lengthy sentences who provided him with a lightbulb moment that changed his life forever.Now 56, Otto revealed: “It was these two guys — one was doing 24 years for murder, the other 17 for manslaughter.“They had watched me playing football in the gym and realised I had a talent and expressed this in the most incredible way.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“They told me something that day I have never forgotten: ‘Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you’.“From that moment I understood what they meant: ‘Don’t just sit in prison doing nothing but rather start preparing yourself now for when you are released’.“After that I became a gym orderly and started to prepare myself mentally and physically for a life after prison. It was just the kick up the backside that I needed.“When I walked out of Wandsworth in 1990, I knew it was a new beginning — with football being my escape into a new world.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe former winger said: “My immediate thought was to re-engage with my old team-mates who were now playing for amateur side Haringey Borough.“After a few games I got injured and I was sent for treatment at non-league Dartford. I ended up playing four games for them.Leicester City Players Under Fire for Harassing Fan “My performances caught the eye of Leyton Orient management duo Frank Clark and Peter Eustace.“They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my time.“The trial was successful and I signed my first professional contract ten months after being released and just a couple of weeks before my 23rd birthday. It was the best birthday present ever!”After playing in the reserves and learning the game, Otto eventually got the chance to make his league debut when he was made sub for Orient’s fourth-tier game at Fulham in 1991, just 15 months after his release.He continued: “It was the last game of the season. I played the last 15 minutes, I should have scored too. But I was on the pitch playing and I had this wonderful feeling of achievement.”The following season he played 32 league games for the O’s, scoring his first goal at Hartlepool in September 1991.Otto said: “It was flattering that Barry Fry — then with Barnet — had watched me play against his side in the London Cup final and was clearly impressed.“When Barry joined Southend in April 1993 he signed me for £100,000. I don’t think I played in a better side at the start of the 1993-94 season.They knew of my past and did not judge me but offered me a week’s trial, which was the opportunity of a lifetime that I’d been dreaming of while serving my timeRicky OttoSunSport“Had Barry not been headhunted by Birmingham I genuinely believe we would have gone on to make the play-offs in what was the Championship at the end of that season.“We had such a wonderful camaraderie, with wins against big clubs with multi-million-pound budgets like Sunderland, Derby, Stoke and Middlesbrough. We were flying!”Otto’s next move was to link up with Fry again at Birmingham — this time in an £800,000 switch to St Andrew’s.His greatest football memories include his stunning equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield in the 1995 FA Cup and playing for City in the Football League Trophy final the same year — when his assist provided the extra-time winner for Paul Tait in front of over 76,000 fans at Wembley.Otto said: “I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.“I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at Wembley.”After Birmingham, Otto played at Charlton, Peterborough and Notts County on loan.It was while he was with County, under Sam Allardyce, that he suffered a cruciate ligament injury which ultimately ended his career.I remember travelling on the coach to Wembley with a sea of Birmingham fans walking towards the stadium.I had that pinch-me moment where I couldn’t believe I was going to be playing at WembleyRicky OttoSunSportHe said: “I did manage to play again but I was never the same player. I’d lost that yard of pace and I always had that twinge of pain when I was playing.”After ten years, he knew his career was over.He added: “Having left school with no qualifications this was a period when I had think what I was going to do for the rest of my life.“Of course, I could have slipped back into my old ways before football but I knew I had to build another chapter to my life.”Instead, he trained as a probation officer, later creating his own consultancy working with offenders and those at risk of offending.Ricky said: “My work has enabled me to engage with some of the country’s most prolific offenders.“Being able to relate to their journey, I am able to use the same old adage that was spoken into my life when incarcerated: Don’t serve the time, let the time serve you.“For nearly 20 years I have primarily worked with adults. However, over the last two years I’ve been working with Walsall Youth Justice Service as a Resettlement Disproportionality Officer.”READ MORE SUN STORIESEven more remarkably, father-of-three Ricky is a committed Christian and, after passing his degree in Theology, is Pastor of ARC Birmingham Church. He is currently studying for a Masters degree.Yet in reflection of his extraordinary 56 years, Otto readily admits: “Without a shadow of a doubt, football saved my life.” More

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      EFL manager facing FA probe after marching over to referee and squaring up to opposition player in moment of madness

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      BOLTON manager Ian Evatt was sent off after a dramatic draw with Shrewsbury as he angrily confronted the referee AND an opposing player.The Trotters dragged themselves back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with struggling Shrewsbury on Saturday in an intense League One clash at the Reebok.Bolton boss Ian Evatt angrily confronted the referee and an opposing playerCredit: RexEvatt was furious after ref Declan Bourne blew his whistle while the final minute of stoppage time was still tickingEvatt then angrily confronted Shrewsbury ace Josh FeeneyFeeney appeared to urge the referee to show Bolton boss Evatt a red cardBolton manager Evatt was then sent off by the refereeThe Shrews scored twice within the space of eight minutes with Josh Feeney opening the scoring in the 20th-minute mark before Jordan Shipley doubled their lead.But Bolton fought back in the second half with Kyle Dempsey’s effort in the 47th minute.And the hosts levelled things up on 61 minutes with Szabolcs Schon’s finish.The Whites pushed hard for a late winner in front of a disappointed home crowd, who were especially frustrated during a dire first-half performance.Read More on FootballThe fourth official indicated eight minutes of added time at the end of the match.However, referee Declan Bourne blew his whistle the final sixty seconds still ticking down – with Evatt immediately marching over to the man in black to remonstrate.An angry exchange soon followed as Shrewsbury ace Feeney appeared to urge the ref to show the Bolton boss a red card.The 42-year-old tactician then squared up to the defender directly in front of the official.Most read in EFLArsenal teenager Jacker Porter made his Gunners debut against Bolton and became a record breakerAnd that was when Bourne showed Evatt a red card amid some angry scenes.The EFL manager is now facing an FA probe following the incident at full-time.Bolton are 13th in the League One table while Shrewsbury are third from bottom.Bolton manager Evatt is now facing an FA probe after the match with ShrewsburyCredit: Rex More

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      EFL icon recalls his wildest stories, including spiked team-mate turning into Spider-Man and hothead boss’ topless rant

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      EFL legend Darren Pratley has revealed his team-mate once turned into Spider-Man after being spiked on a night out.Pratley helped Swansea up the divisions earlier in his career and played one season in the Premier League for Bolton.Darren Pratley shared a deep dive on his career in ‘What the EFL?’Credit: PA:Empics SportEx-team-mate Rory Fallon acted like Spider-Man after being spikedCredit: GettyBut it is Swansea where he has some of his fondest memories – including his funniest training ground story.He shared some tall tales from his career with SunSport as part of the “What the EFL?” series.From topless manager rants to a moment that still haunts him, Pratley shared all on his 21-year career.WILDEST TRAINING GROUND TALERory Fallon, and we always used to go on a jog. He’d been out the night before, came to training late, he’d been spiked, so he was Spider-Man the night before, apparently jumping around and doing crazy stuff.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBEST EFL PLAYERAdel Taarabt played against him. I played in that game that they keep showing on the EFL where he nutmegs Joe Allen and cuts inside and scores.BEST EFL FANSI’d have to go Swansea, wouldn’t I? Swansea, Swansea, Jacks. Yeah, apart from Leyton Orient, I’d have to go Swansea.DODGIEST EFL FACILITIESAgain, probably be Swansea. We used to train at the David Lloyd gym, so we would be showering after training with the public.If you didn’t have a good result, they would be asking you why when you’re naked in the showers.Most read in EFLBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEFL FANS WHO LIVE RENT FREE IN YOUR HEADI’d say Millwall. I’ve scored a few goals against them. Six-, seven-, eight-year-olds who give you a bit of stick when you warm up. It’s an intimidating place to go, so probably I’d say Millwall.EFL star banned for eight matches for biting Liverpool legend Ian Rush’s nephew MOMENT THAT STILL HAUNTS YOUWe played Blackpool in the last game of the season. I think we just had to get a win. So they turned up, Phillips, Ince and all them, and it was 3-0 down after, I think, 15 minutes, and then we ended up missing out on goal difference, I think, on the play-offs.MADDEST DRESSING ROOM TALEIn my first loan at Brentford, at half-time, Martin Allen sits in the centre of the room on a chair with his top off, screaming, shouting at everyone. Didn’t know what was going on.MADDEST TRANSFER STORYAt Charlton, David Cotterill, he was texting me the night before saying that Charlton had offered him a contract, a couple of years and all that, and good money and that, and I was quite shocked, to be fair. And then he turned up the next day at the gates, thinking that he was coming in to sign a contract. Lee Bowyer had come to the gates and was like, show me the emails you’ve been getting, I have a messenger. It wasn’t the manager who he’d been speaking to, someone had pretended to be the manager on an email. He had to go home.WILDEST OWNER ANTICSAt Bolton, Lee Anderson, so he used to come in, we’d be in the changing room, the boys would have discussions whether they were going on a strike, whether they were going to train today.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe wasn’t paying wages for the players. We were in a good time at that time, when he wasn’t paying the players, so I just have to say, Lee Anderson.WILDEST NIGHT OUT”I’ve had a few. Got to say Marbella. We got promoted here, at Leyton Orient. We went to Marbella as a team and staff and had a good time.” More